Town of Millinocket, Maine

Millinocket is a town of about 4,200 residents that is a true gateway to some of Maine’s most amazing and varied wilderness. From the Golden Road running to Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin’s massively beautiful profile, you’ll be in absolute awe of what the area offers. Yes, in many ways you’ll find yourself taking a step back in time. Much of it is just what you hoped for. Other aspects of it, utterly surprising. Are you ready? Let’s go!

The Millinocket Gateway Story

The beginning of this short tale is the meaning of the town’s name. It’s from the Abenaki language and means “land of many islands.” As you’ll shortly come to learn, that can be taken in several ways. That’s because coming from the south Millinocket is the gateway to the North Maine Woods, an expansive area of timberland, lakes, rivers, and terrain that varies from mountains to rolling hills.

As the locals say, “up in these parts” you can go for miles without many signs of human habitation. Overall, the wildlife is happy having it that way. And the humans who do venture here relish it for the privacy, thrilling adventures, and treasures it provides. The latter includes wood, game, and every kind of tale you can imagine.

Before we get into the what-to-do while you’re here, let’s talk a bit more about Millinocket, as it’s gone through big changes in recent years. That means different things, depending on where you are. Up here people are hardy and resilient, good qualities to have when you live on the edge of remoteness. In fact, it’s referred to as a “frontier town” on its website, something that’s quite apt in my estimation. It’s been that way a long time, beginning with native settlements thousands of years ago.

Yet here we are today. What was once the largest paper mill in the world closed its doors, yet in 2016 a big portion of the expansive region was designated The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Millinocket leads the way in welcoming guests to the marvel and magic the region reveals.

The Golden Road: Tales, Truth, & Safe Traveling

I know, hearing about the Golden Road can harken one back to the Yellow Brick Road. Well, by the time you’ve ridden this road, one way or another, Dorothy’s adventures will look relatively mild. (Okay, I admit to being a bit on the cautious side…) On to telling tales, that often includes what animals people see and how big they are. Well, in fact, those seemingly tall tales may be true. That leads to safe traveling. Yes, moose can be huge, and yes, they might run right into the road in front of you. All the stuff you’ve read about not getting too close is true.

The next question: Is it a tale or truth that the logging trucks are that big and go that fast? You can put this in the same category as advice of the moose variety. Staying safe by keeping your eyes on the road is a good idea, especially when you’re in the midst of many square miles of woods with iffy cell reception.

That brings up the next: Is it tale or truth? Well, many of the tales you’ll hear are true, from the size of the game to the amazement of the stars at night or the size of the trees. The point is to go find the truth for yourself and decide which will become the tales that you’ll share for years! Up here, we all have ‘em! Why shouldn’t you?

Baxter, Katahdin, and Beyond

It was important for you to hear about the Golden Road as a prequel to planning your time at Katahdin, or in the surrounding miles in Baxter State Park where you’ll find real wilderness, as in REAL! If it’s on your destination list, make the time to read tips from the Friends of Baxter State Park who want you to have an enjoyable time.

By the way, when you read that roads are one lane, that’s true, as in sometimes a tight squeeze. That’s all part of the adventure.

Let’s backtrack for a moment, so you can have things reasonably well organized. The Baxter State Park Headquarters is right in the center of Millinocket. If it’s closed, then stop in at one of the local outfitter shops as they’ll be really happy to lend a planning hand. From there, you travel rather north and west for about an hour on the Golden Road until you reach Katahdin. GPS up in this area isn’t reliable so it’s good to have a map and clear directions. I know I’m repeating myself…up here we want you to have an enjoyable time and that means going in the right direction!

So now you’re at Mount Katahdin, a massif of extraordinary proportions, standing at 5269 feet. The Penobscot gave it this name, meaning “The Greatest Mountain.” That it certainly is, being the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Here you’ll find a set of climbs that match your ability and interests. One of course is the legendary Knife Edge. Historically, you’re in good company as Henry David Thoreau climbed here in the mid-19th century.

It’s wise to be prepared and realistic about your abilities as fortunately there are trails of the moderate variety. One is Katahdin Stream Falls that’s a two-mile hike and another is Katahdin Lake Trail that’s several miles long.

Chances are as you’re taking in the array of natural surroundings, you’ve already made plans for where to stay. Why, you can even go winter camping in Baxter if you’re so inclined and have reservations! Your pets need to stay home as none are allowed in the park. Here’s another link for Friends of Baxter State Park, this one giving you details about camping options. Yup, be sure to plan ahead for that!

Of course, you may prefer to have a genuine upcountry lodge experience, such as that at Big Moose Inn, Cabins & Campground that states its full service accommodations are the ones closest to Baxter State Park. You’re also sure to find plenty of other places that suit your needs, whether it’s a motel or a cozy private rental tucked away in the woods.

Water: White or Wilderness

I’d like to take a bit more of your time to get back to Millinocket as a gateway to marvelous places and experiences. Now, when I say white in relation to water, it means two things! First is the winter wonderland surrounding Millinocket. The Northern Timber Cruisers website introduces you to the area’s riding, cross country skiing, and snow shoeing options. The New England Outdoor Center offers information about all kinds of year round activities. If your family is hankering for some alpine skiing, Mt. Jefferson is only an hour away. Fun alert here! They have snow tubing and gosh won’t the kids love it. As in, kids of all ages!

So there’s the white as in crystallized frozen water, then there’s the white water of summer. Oh yeah, we’re talking wet and definitely wild! North Country Rivers has white water tours on the Penobscot River, plus ATV outings and all sorts of wilderness activities. If you want a long, memorable trip, then consider paddling the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, something to plan way ahead. It’s a ways up the road from here, though still in the general vicinity. That is, when you consider the astounding expanse of the North Maine Woods!

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